The Quad announcement said the goal is to protect cyber-users from cybercrimes and other cyber threats…reports Yashwant Raj
India, Australia, Japan and the United States on Tuesday launched an initiative to boost their cyber security called the ‘Quad Cyber Challenge’.
“We are inviting Internet-users across the Indo-Pacific and beyond to join the Challenge and pledge to practice safe and responsible cyber habits,” the White House said in an announcement.
“The Challenge reflects Quad’s continuing efforts to strengthen individuals’ and communities’ cyber security awareness and action, as well as to foster a more secure and resilient cyber ecosystem to benefit economies and users everywhere.”
The Challenge consists of a checklist for individuals and businesses to determine their cyber security situation, along with recommendations such as installing security updates, improving and regularly changing passwords, installing password managers, adopting two-step verification, locking up devices, and keeping back-up files.
The challenge will provide resources, including basic cybersecurity information and training, for all users and will culminate in events during the week of April 10.
“The Quad partners are working to ensure that everyone has access to the resources needed to make informed decisions while online and using smart devices,” the announcement said.
The Quad announcement said the goal is to protect cyber-users from cybercrimes and other cyber threats.
No sources are mentioned of these crimes and threats, but a lot of them originate in China. One such attack targeted India’s premier health institution, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, in November last year.
Chinese threat in telecom, 6G tech
Amid threats from China in the field of telecom and 6G technology, the Quad grouping has decided to ensure “security-by-design and best practices of cyber security,” according to a White House press release.
In a joint statement after the meeting of the Quad Senior Cyber Group in New Delhi on January 30 and 31, the Group said that it was working on identifying best security practices for software services and products and minimum critical infrastructure cyber security requirements. “Our meeting advanced the Group’s positive and ambitious agenda. Quad partners are working together to better secure cyberspace and foster an international digital economy that works for everyone, including regional partners in the Indo-Pacific,” read the release.
Observing that telecom security is a core function of national security, the statement said working in conjunction with Quad CET Working Group, the Group will strive to ensure that security-by-design and best practices of cyber security are incorporated in Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) and 6G technologies.
The Group also endorsed the Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) efforts (of which Quad countries are members) to drive international cooperation and joint action to tackle ransomware including through information and intelligence exchanges, sharing best practices regarding policy and legal authority frameworks, and collaboration between law enforcement and cyber authorities to conduct counter ransomware activities, it added.
In the longer term, the Group has also committed to: leveraging machine learning and related advanced technologies to enhance cyber security; establishing secure channels for Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and private sector threat information sharing; and creating a framework and methodology for ensuring Supply Chain Security and Resilience for information communication technologies (ICT) and operational technology (OT) systems of critical sectors. (IANS/ANI)
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